Disconnect switch



Filed Oct. 5l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 3, 1932 WILLIAM J. BRENNAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DISCONNECT SWITCH Application filed October 31, 1928. Serial No. 316,128.

This invention has to do with an electrical switch, and it is a general obj ect of the invention to provide a simple, practical, and improved disconnect switch particularly suited tor use in high voltage circuits.

Switches used in high tension circuits for controlling such circuits are commonly termed disconnect switches and are frequently provided with releasable latch devices for holding them in closed position.

lt is an object of my present invention to provide a switch of the type mentioned embodying a simplitied and improved means for holding the switch closed.

Another object o1' the invention is to provide a switch of the character mentioned having two handles, one operable to unlock the switch and open it, and the other provided 'lor testing the switch in loclred position.

il. further object of the invention is to provide an improved Yformation and construction of parts in a switch of the character mentioned whereby the switch is simple and dependable in operation.

The various objects and 'features of the invention will be best and more fully understood il'rom the 'following detailed description ott a 'typical form of the invention, throughout which description I refer to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the switch showing it in closed position and showing it mounted on suitable insulators. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 an enlarged detailed plan view taken at the outer portion oi the movable element or blade. Fig. 4f is a side elevation oit the parts shown in Fig. being a view taken as indicated by line lil-1l on Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 5--5 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5.

The switch provided b v this invention includes, generally, a movable element or blade 10, a pivotal mounting 11 for the blade, a stationary Contact 12 receiving the blade in the closed position, a loclt 13 for holding the blade in the closed position, means 15 for actuating the lock, and various other parts the details and functions of which will be hereinafter described.

The movable element or blade 10 preferably comprises two elongate parts or legs 16 the inner end portions of which are spaced a substantial distance apart while the outer portions 17 are parallel and spaced somewhat apart to be received by the stationary contact, as will be hereinafter described. The legs 16 are held apart at the inner end portion of the blade by a spacer 18. A spacer 19 is arranged between the blades intermediate the end portions while a bloclr 20 and pin 21 operate to space the outer end portions 17 oi the blade.

The mounting 11 provided for holding the inner end of the blade may include a base 22 and spaced lugs 23 projecting upwardly from the base to receive the spaced inner end por tions of the leg 16. Suitable pivot bolts 211 may be provided for pivotally connecting the leg portions with the lugs. The lugs 23 are provided with shoulders 25 adapted to coop crate with shoulders 26 formed on the end ot the leg parts to limit the opening movement of the blade. In the case illustrated the shoulders 25 and 2G are angularly disposed, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the draw-r ings. It will be obvious that these shoulders can be related to stop the blade 16 in any desired position. In the construction shown the base 22 is formed of metal and is provided with a projecting terminal 27 to which an electrical conductor may be connected as by bolts 28, or the like.

The mounting 11 just described may be held or supported in any suitable manner, for

instance it may be supported from a suitable frame 29 through a series of insulators 30.

The stationary contact 12 provided for receiving the outer end of the blade 10 includes a base 31 and spaced jaw projections 32 on the base to receive the outer end portions 17 ot the blade. The jaws 32 may be formed directly on the base and may have their outer end portions 33 outwardly turned to form lips for directing the blade parts into closed position as shown throughout the drawings. The jaws 32 are spaced apart so that the outer end portions 17 of the blade are sprung or compressed somewhat together upon being entered between the jaws. The base 31 of the stationary contact may be provided with a terminal projection 34 similar to the projection 27 on the base of the blade mounting and may be mounted in any suitable manner, for instance on the frame 29 through insulators 30. The base members 22 and 32 are mounted on blocks or caps 63 and 64 respectively which are supported from the frame 29 through series of insulators 30. rlhe caps 63 and 64 are arranged so that they may be adjusted in relation to each other. By this arrangement the switch is adapted to complete adjustment.

The lock 13 for holding the blade in the closed position as shown throughout the drawings is preferably in the nature of a latch means and in the preferred construction includes a latch member 35 on each blade portion 17. The latch members 35 are carried on a pin 36 which extends between the end portions 17 and are adapted to engage shoulders 37 provided on the jaws 32. In accordance with the invention the jaws are notched to have shoulders 37 which face downwardly or toward the base 31, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The latch members 35 extend upwardly or outwardly from the pin 36 into engagement with the shoulders 37 to operate under compression in holding the blade 10 in the closed position.

The means 15 provided for operating the lock 13 are latch members 35 comprises a member yoked at one end to have spaced parts 40 receiving the outer ends of the parts 17 to be carried by a pivot pin 21. The other or outer portion 41 of the member is in the nature of a handle. The handle portion is preferably provided with an eye 42 to facilitate operation of the device by a hook, or the like. The spaced parts 40 of the operating member engage the outer sides of the parts 17 and are provided with shoulders 43 to cooperate with shoulders 44 provided on the latch members. The shoulders 43 and 44 are, of course, faced in opposite directions and so that movement of the handle 41 in the direction of the arrow A indicated in Fig. 4 causes the latch members to be disengaged from the shoulders 37 and then causes the end portions 17 of the blade to be disengaged from the jaws 32. With this arrangement, one continuous movement of the handle releases the latches and opens the switch.

It is desirable in practice that the latch members 35 and the operating member be normally yieldingly held in the position shown throughout the drawings. For this purpose tension springs 50 are provided between the latch members 35 and the operating member, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The springs are attached to the latch members so that the outer or shoulder engaging portions of the latch members are normally urged in the direction of the jaws 32 and are attached to the operating member so that it is normally urged in the opposite direction or in a direction opposite to that illustrated by the arrow A in Fig. 4. The operating member has shoulders 55 located between the parts 40 to engage the ends of the blade parts 17 to limit the amount the operating member is moved by the springs 50. It will be obvious, of course, that the shoulders 43, cooperating with the shoulders 44, limit the amount the latch members are moved by the springs 50.

In accordance with my construction a compression spring 56, preferably a helical spring, is arranged between the blade parts 17 to normally urge or spread them apart to assure proper contact with the aws 32. In the preferred construction the spring 56 is ar'- ranged under compression between the blade parts 17 and is carried on the pin 36 which supports the latch members. This arrangement is clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

Another feature provided by my invention is a downward extension 60 on the bloc-k 20 to cooperate with the base 31 in stopping inward or closing movement of the blade, and

an upward or outward extension 61 on theV such as may be used to actuate the switch. InA

practice the parts 20, 60 and 61 may be formed integrally and may be permanently mounted between the parts 17 by means of rivets 63, or the like. i

The blocks 63 and 64 are mounted on the insulators for adjustment in opposite directions. The block 63 is shown adjustable longitudinally of the blade 10 while the block 64 is adjustable transversely. The blocks have suitably disposed slots which carry bolts 71 for holding the switch parts. The slots allow for shifting of the bolts to adjust the positions of the switch parts.

`When the device or switch is closed, or in use, the parts are positioned as shown throughout the drawings. j With such posi* tioning of parts. the latch members are in enga gement with the shoulders 37 and thus operate under compression to hold the blade 10 closed and in cooperative engagement with the jaws 32. To open the blade the operator engages the handle part 41 of the operating member, for instance he engages the eye 42 in the operating member and moves the operating member in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 4. This causes the latch members to be simultaneously operated out of engagement with the shoulders 37 and then causes the blade parts 17 to be disengaged from between the jaws 32. The blade may be lil) swung open until the shoulders 25 and 26 engage to stop it. To close the switch it is merely necessary to swing the blade to the closed position. It is to be particularly noted that the latch members automatically engage the shoulders 3T as the blade is moved to the closed position and that the latch members operate or latch into position independently oit the operating member and independently ol each other as the blade is closed. This tea ture of the invention is important as it en ables an operator to close the switch through engagement with the handle part f-ll or the operating member without having this part moved or actuated by the latches as the latches operate in locking the switch. When the blade is in a closed position or at any time the blade can be operated or tested by engaging the handle til. However, it is to be noted that the latches cannot be released through en gagement of the handle 6l.

Having described only a typical pre'lerred term of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specilic details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A switch of the character described including, a movable blade, a rigid stationary contact to receive the blade, and means for loching the blade in cooperative engagement with the stationary contact includin two indimendently operable latch members directly carried by the blade to directly cooperativelyT engage the stationary contact.

Q. A switch of the character described including, a mov: ble blade, a stationary Contact lia-ving rigid jaws to receive the blade, the jaws being notched to form should-ers, and means -for locking the blade in cooperative engagement with the stationary Contact including two latch members to act under compression, a single pin mounting the latch members on the blade for independent operation, and spring means operating the latch members to cooperatively engage the shoul ders.

3. A switch et the character described. including, a movable blade, a stationary contact to receive the blade, and means for locking the blade in copperative engagement with the stationary Contact including, two latch members operating under compression and engaging the stationary contact when the switch is closed, a single pin mounting the latch members on the blade for independent operation, and an individual operating spring tor each latch member.

Ll. A switch of the character described includiner a movable blade, a stationary contact to receive the blade, and means for loclru ing the blade in cooperative engagement with the stationary contact including two independently operable latch members carried by the blade to cooperatively engage the stationary contact, the stationary contact having lhoulders to cooperate with the latch memers.

5. A switch of the character described including, two spaced blades, a stationary contact to receive the blades, a spring between the blades tending to move them apart, a latch carried by the blades to cooperate with the stationary Contact, an operating member carried by the blades for operating the latch, and a single spring operating both the latch and operating member and secured to the operating member.

6. A switch of the character described including, a movable blade a stationary contact to receive the blade, a pair of independently operable compression latch members carried by the blade to cooperate with the stationary contact, a single operating member carried by the blade to simultaneously operate the latch members to released position and spaced pins to pivotally carry the pair of latch members and the operating member.

7. A switch of the character described including, a movable blade, a rigid stationary contact having a notch forming a shoulder to receive the blade, a pair of independently operable latch members carried by the blade to directly cooperate with the shoulder in the g stationary contact, and a single operating member carried by the blade to simultaneously operate the latch members to released position, the latch members and operating member being pivotally mounted and related so that the closing actions of the latch mem- Eers are independent of the operating mem* In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my 'name this 16th day of October, 1928.

`WILLIAM J. BRENNAN. 

